45 Professionals Selected For 2025-26 Class Of Leadership Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Forty-five professionals from the Tuscaloosa area have been selected for the 2025-26 class of Leadership Tuscaloosa.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

The nine-month leadership development program will be presented by Shelton State Community College and facilitated by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama. The program is designed to prepare participants to engage in the community and address local needs.

Tuscaloosa Association of Realtors CEO Shay Lawson will serve as chair for the upcoming class.

Lawson is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Tuscaloosa and is an active member of the program’s alumni association.

Class members include:

• Valerie Autry, NOAA Office of Water Prediction
• Chelsea Barton Kelly, Visit Tuscaloosa
• Joe Bedwell, DCH Health System
• Lauren Benson, Tuscaloosa County Commission
• Sam Carpenter, Ward Scott Morris Architecture
• Shelby Castellanos, Physiolete Therapy and Performance
• Myra Cochrane, RiverFall Credit Union
• Dominic Combs, The University of Alabama
• Chris Cunningham, Tuscaloosa County Commission
• Tre’ Finklea, The University of Alabama
• Shelby Gandy, The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama
• Jackie Hudgins, Tuscaloosa County School System
• Blaine Hudson, BF Goodrich
• Anisa Hunter, Bryant Bank
• Lauren Hurn, Tuscaloosa Angels
• Thornton Jamison, JamisonMoneyFarmer PC
• Jeffrey Jenkins, Alabama Industrial Development Training
• Taylor Jenkins, Alabama Credit Union
• Keri Johnson, Tuscaloosa County School System
• Chris Jordan, Tuscaloosa’s One Place
• Jamie Key, Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Clay Kilgore, AccountingRx
• Stephanie Lowe, The University of Alabama
• Marvin Lucas, Tuscaloosa City Schools
• Torrus McGill, Tuscaloosa County School System
• Lexi McMahon, The University of Alabama
• Tony Mills, City of Tuscaloosa
• Shywanda Moore, Shelton State Community College
• Preeti Nichani, Tuscaloosa City Schools
• Drew Oakley, The Church at Tuscaloosa
• Sarah Pederson, DCH Health System
• Bradley Porter, TTL, Inc.
• Jabaree Prewitt, WVUA 23 News
• David Rodgers, Alabama ONE
• Chris Skinner, Buffalo Rock – Pepsi
• Rob Tanner, AFFLINK
• Andre Taylor, The University of Alabama
• Anna Claire Toxey, The University of Alabama
• Daniel Truelove, Jr., Trueloves Way LLC
• Keyani Washington, Keyani Siobhan
• Hays Webb, Tuscaloosa County District Attorney’s Office
• Felice Wiggins, The Alamite
• Gavin Wilks, Ringer Wilks Co.
• Sadaris Williams, The University of Alabama
• Kelly Wolfe, The University of Alabama

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com